Attachment eor harmonicas



Feb. 16 1926. 1,573,242

w. A. HAND ATTACHMENT FOR HARMONI CA5 Filed NOV. '7, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WA.Ha ed Feb. 16 1926.

W. A. HAND ATTACHMENT FOR HARMONICAS 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov. '7, 1923 Patented Feb; 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

WALTER A. HAND, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ATTACHMENT FOR HARMONICAS.

Application filed November 7, 1923. Serial No. 673,309.

even though unable to read musical notar' L Another object of the invention is to provide a device for the purpose stated so constructed and capable of use in such a manner as to accurately instruct the'user in the proper rendition of the composition to be played, so that after a piece has been played several times the player will become familiar with the score and quite proficient in its rendition. 7

Another object of the invention is torprovi'de a device for the purpose, stated which may be applied to practically any standard harmonica and manipulated in a most convenient manner.

The device embodying the invention includes in its structure meansfor supporting the harmonica, a slide movable along the mouth piece of the harmonica and embodying an arrangement of openings through which air currents are t be inducedby the player, means for supporting a music sheet within view of the player. and means associated with the slide for coaction with the music sheet to indicate which notes of the composition are to be sounded, and another object ofthe invention is to provide novel means for. mounting the music sheet holder whereby the sheet may be conveniently and accurately adjusted without confusion to the player. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide means for so mounting the slide for movement with relation to the mouth piece or" the instrument that the user ofthe device will naturally acquire skill in manipulating or transversely sliding the harmonica with relation-to his mouth.

Another object of the invention is to pr0 vide a novel type of music sheet for employmentiin connection with a device of this class, the invention contemplating the pro:

vision of a novel selection of symbols upon theflface of the sheet which will be readily intelligible to the player and by noting which he may readily render the composition to be played.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device;

Figure 3 is a verticalfront to rear sectional view through the device on the line 38"o:t Figurevl looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; I

Figure 4: is a perspective view otthe slide of the device; i t

Figure 5 is a detail vertical transverse sectional View on the line 5- -5 of Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows to be presently explained, is provided with a longitudinally extending slot indicated by the numeral'd. -A hand rest 5 extends be tween and connects the lower rear corners of the sides 2' and is preferably in the'nature of a substantially cylindrical piece of wood of a diameter adapting it to rest upon the hand of the user without causing annoyance orinconvenience. At their upper edges and, more specifically, at their upperrear corners, the sides 2 of the support are provided with extensions 6 which project upwardly and rearwardly from the said corners oi the sides and are provided along their upper edges with inturned flanges 7. The flange 7 overlies the upper side of the harmonica which is indicated by the numeral 8, at the ends thereof and are secured thereto by any suitable fastening means adapting the harmonica to be either permanently or removably'held in place upon the support. For a purpose to be presently explained, each extension 6 is provided with a laterally outwardly extending guide portion indicated by the numeral 9 which occupies a plane substantially the same as the plane occupied by the mouth piece of the harmonica. The harmonica is in itselt ot the ordinary construction and embodies the usual reed openings or air passages 10 which extend in a series longitudinally of the said mouth piece or" the instrument.

The sliding mouth piece of the device is indicated in general by the numeral 11 and the same comprises spaced resilient wings 12 which are preferably flexed along reversely curved lines illustrated in the drawings so that there are provided bearing portionslil and upturned edge portions 14:, the wings being connected at their opposite edge portions by a connecting portion 15 provided with three openings indicated by the nume "al 16, and a fourth opening indicated by the numeral 17, these openings being preferably substantially rectangular and conforming in dimensions tothe dimensions of the reed openings 10 in the harmonica in connection with which the device is employed. The mouth piece slide is adapted to be frictionally titted onto the harmonica in the manner clearly shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of-the drawings, the upturned edge portions l l permitting of the slide being readily slipped over-the harmonica, and the portions 13 bearing frictionally against the upper and under sides ofthe plates of the harmonica lVhen the slide is properly positioned upon the harmonica, the connecting portion 15 will rest fiat against the mouth piece of the harmonica, and by reference to Figure 1 it will be observed that the slide may be movedback and forth across the instrument so that the openings 16 and 17 may be brought into registration with the openings 10 in a selective manner. The mouth piece 11 is, 01" course to be held stationary with relation to the lips of the player, and with. this end in View-cheek plates 18 are provided for engagement with the cheeks of the player and are connected by resilient shanks 19 with the opposite ends of the connecting portion 15 of the said mouth piece 11. These cheek plates do not of course so firmly bear against the cheeks of the playe' as to cause inconvenience or annoyance or in any way inter ere with playing of the harmonica, but as stated their purpose is to maintain the mouth piece as a whole in fixed relation to the lips of the player so that air may be blown or sucked through the openings 16 and l? to sound the proper reeds of the instriufent. The slidable mouth piece ll is provided with a pointer 20 which extends downwardly and forwardly from the upper wing 12 oil the said mouth piece and between the sides 2 of the support of the device to coact with the music sheet upon the umsic sheet support as will presently be explained. The pointer 20 is substantially in direct alinement with the opening 17 in the connecting portion 15 of lhe said mouth piece.

The music sheet holder or support is indicated in general by the numeral 21 and the same comprises a plate .22 which is of substantially re .-tangular form and of a width to permit of its being slidably disposed ll0- tween the side walls 2 of the support the plate being provided near its lateral (r1505 and more or less adjacent its ends with stamped up clips 23 beneath which the mar gins of the music sheet, indicated in rue al by the numeral 2%, are to be titteih tlu sheet being adapted to be slid into place and retained by the clips. To limit the sliding movement of the sheet at the time oi its introduction a clip 25 similar to the clips 2 is struck up from the plate 22 near its rear end, the rear or lower edge of the sheet being receivable beneath this clip. The plate 22 comprising the music leaf support or holder. is slidably titted throughthe slot l formed in the connecting portion 3 of the support 1, and the side walls 2 of the said support 1 are formed vith longitudinally extending slots 26 parallel to the lower edges of the said walls and occupying the same plane as that occupied by the slot L At its rear corners the plate J2 is provided with laterally projecting overturned slides 24' which embrace the portions of the sides 2 hi low the slots 26, and in this manner the rear portion of the plate 22 is supported for sliding movement, the tori'ard portion of the plate being suaported and guided by the lower wail of the slot l. In order that the music leaf support may l). inai rally moved forwardly step by step as the composition is being rendered, a linger piece 28 is provided at the rear end of the plate 22 and extends 1 below the plane of the said plate in position where theplayers linger may be readily inserted for the purpose stated.

The music sheet which is indicated in general by the numeral Q-l, may consist at a sheet of and board, and ti e l'ace oi this sheet or leaf is ruled by vertical and horizontal lines indicated respectively by the numeals Q5) and 30. The horizontal lines indicate, gencia'lv the distance the music sheet or leaf is to be moved in a forward direction, and the vertical lines'30indicate the distance the mouth piece 11 is to -be moved in a transverse direction, the extremity of the pointer 20 registering withthese lines. and resting upon the surface of tie leaf. The vertical divisions defined by he lines 30 represent, of course, the notes which will be sounded when air is blown or sucked through the reed openings 10 of the harmonica, and at this point it may be stated that the opening 17 represents the treble opening of the mouth piece 11 and that the openings 16 represent the bass notes. Consequently, when the terminal of the pointer 20 is in registration with one or another of the rer-' tical lines 30, the opening 17 will be in registration with the corresponding reed opening 10 of the harmonica and one note or the other will be sounded when air is blown through or sucked through the said opening 17 and the corresponding opening '10. The same, of course, holds "true of the openings 16 which representthe bass notes and theseopenings 16 will at such time be in registration with the proper reed openings 10 of the harmonica to sound the accompaniment for the treble notes.

of the device so as to properly render the composition, a tracker line 31 is primed upon the face of the music sheet and follows the horizontal and vertical lines beginning at a starting point which is indicated in the drawings arbitrarily by the numeral 32, and by following'which line with the extremity of. the pointer 20, simultaneously through coordinate movement of the music leaf holder in an outward direction and the mouth piece 11 ina transverse direction, the successive notes may be played with their proper duration. Of course, inplaying the instrument, and in'following the tracker line 31, the player will either shift the leaf holder 21 forwardly one or more divisions as indicated by the horizontal lines 29 and that portion of the tracker line which extends along the same, or he will shift the attachment bodily toward the right or left or move his head toward the right or left to cause the extremity of the pointer 20 to follow the tracker line along one or another of the norizontal lines As regards any particular composition of music, portions of the tracker line 81 will be designated by symbols such, for example, as the letters O and l and indicated respectively by the numerals and 31, these symbols indicating, in the iirst'instance, that air is to be blown through the openings in the mouth piece 11,-and, in the second instance, that air is to be drawn in by suction through the openings in the mouth piece. In juxtaposition to each of the symbols b3 and 34 there will b printed a series of dots, certain of which,

In order that the player of the instrument may be guidedin the use indicated by the numeral 35, are of one distinctive color, as, for example, red, and others, indicated by the numeral 36, are of another distinctive color, as,- for example, black. These dots indicate to the player that he is alternately, continuously, or

otherwise, cover or leave unexposed the three tion with the reed openings of the harmon ica, a music leaf holder mounted upon the support and movable in a direction longitudinally of thesupport towards and away from the harmonica, and indicator means carried by the mouth piece for cooperation with a music leaf supported by the leaf holder.

' 2. A. harmonica attachment comprising a of the harmonica, a music leaf holder mounted upon the support and movable in a direction longitudinally of the support towards and away from the harmonica, and indicator means carried by the mouth piece for cooperation with a music leaf supported by the leaf holder.

3. A harmonica attachment comprising a support for the harmonica, a mouth piece movable transversely of the support and having spaced resilient wings to embrace and engage the opposite sides of the harmonica,

and likewise having a connecting portion between the wings provided with an opening for selective registration with the reed openings of the harmonica, a' music leaf holder mounted upon the support andimovable 111 a direction longitudinally of the support towards and away from the harmonica, and indicator means carried by the mouth piece for cooperation with music leaf supported by the leaf holder.

4-. A harmonica attachment comprising a support for the harmonica, the support including spaced side members between which the harmonica is supported, extensions upon the said side members occupying substantially the plane of the mouth piece of the harmonica, a mouth piece movable transversely of the support and having an opening for selective registration with the reed openings of the harmonica, the said mouth piece bein near the extreme limits of its movement, braced and supported by the said extensions of the side members of the support, a music leaf holder mounted upon the support and movable in a direction longitu dinally of the support towards and away from the harmonica, and indicator means carried by the mouth piece for cooperation with a music leaf supported by theleaf holder.

5. A. harmonica attachment comprising a support for the harmonica, a mouth piece movable transversely of the support and having an opening for selective registration with the reed openings of the harmonica, a music leaf holder mounted upon the support and movable in a direction longitudinally of the support towards and away from the harmoni a, and an indicating pointer extending forwardly from the mouth piece for cooperation with a music leaf supported upon the leaf holder.

(3. A harmonica. attachment comprising a support for the harmonica, a. mouth piece movable transversely of the support and compri ing spaced resilient wings to embrace and frictionallv lit the opposite sides of the harmonica and likewise comprising a connecting portion between the wings having an opening for selective registration with the reed openings of the harmonica, a music leaf holder mounted upon the support and mi able. in a direction longitudinally of the support towards and away from. theharmonice, and an indicating pointer extending forwardly from the upper one of the said leaves of the mouth piece and having a pointed end for cooperation with a music lea-f supported by the leaf holder.

7. A harmonica attachment comprising a support for the harmonica,- av mouth piece movable transversely of the support and having an opening for selective registration with the reed openings of the harmonica, a

music leaf holder mounted upon the support and movable in a direction longitudinally of the support, a. linger piece extending below the holder and providing means whereby the holder may be so adjusted, and an indicating pointer extending forwardly from the said mouth piece for cooperation with a music leaf supported by the leaf holder.

8. A harmonica attachment comprising a support for the harmonica. a mouth piece movable transversely of the support and having spaced cheek plates, the said mouth piece having an opening for selective registration with the reed openings of the harmonica, a, music leaf holder mounted upon the support and movable in 'a. direction longitiudinally of the support, and indicator means carried by the mouth piece for cooperation with a music leaf supported by the leaf holder.

9. A harmonica attachment comprising a support for the harmonica, a mouth piece comprising a body member having spaced wings and a connecting portion to embrace the harmonica upon the support and thus be slidably supported thereon, cheek engaging wings. at the opposite ends of the connecting portion of the said mouth piece, said connecting portion of the mouth piece having an opening for registration with the reed openings of the lmrmoi'lica, a music leaf holder mounted upon the support and. movable in a direction longitudinally of the support, and indicator means carried. by the mouth piece for cooperation with a music leaf supported by the leaf holder.

10. A. harmonica attachment comprising a support for the harmonica, a mouth piece movable transversely of the support and comprising spaced wing members and a connecting portion arranged to embrace and slidably fit. the harmonica supported by the support, the said connecting p01 Lion of the mouth piece having an opening for selective regit-ztration with the reed openings of the harmonica, resilient shank members extend ing from the end of the said connecting member of the mouth piece, check plates supported by the said shank members, a music leaf holder mounted upon the support and movable in a direction longitudinally of the support, and indicator means carried by the mouth piece for cooperation with a music leaf supported by the leaf holder.

11. A harmonica attachment comprising a support for the harmonica embodying side members and a connecting front member provided with a longitudinally extending slot, means upon the side members for supporting a harmonica in position extending between their rear portions, a mouth piece movable transversely of the support and upon the harmonica and having an opening for-selective registration with the reed openings of the harmonica, a music leaf holder comprising a plate slidably fitted through the slot in the connecting front member of the support, means supporting the rear portion of the said plate, means upon the plate for retaining a music leaf in position thereon, and indicator means carried by the mouth piece for cooperation with a music leaf supported by the leaf holder.

12. A harmonica attachment comprising a support for the harmonica embodying side walls and a connecting front member having a longitudinal slot therein, means at the rear portions of the side walls for supporting a harmonica in position extending therebetween, a mouth piece slidable transversely with relation to the harmonica and having an opening forrcgistration selectively with the reed openings of the barmonica, a music leaf holder comprising a plate slidably fitted through the slot in the connecting front portion of the said support, the side members of the support having longitudinal slots therein substantially in the plane of the slot in the said front connecting member of the support, means upon the plate engaging in the said slots in the side members for supporting the rear portion of the plate, whereby the plate may be slidably adjusted in a front and rearward direction, a finger piece upon the plate providing such adjustment, means upon the plate for retaining a music sheet thereon, 10 and indicator means carried by the mouth piece for cooperation With a music leaf supported by the leaf holder.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WALT R A. HAND. 11, s.] 

